Shawn Whiteside (left) and Scott Millar (right) in the garden at Johnstone Court Group Home.

In honor of Direct Support Professional (DSP) Appreciation Week, Shawn Whiteside, a residential DSP who has worked with MVA for over six years, wanted to share his experience with an individual he supports, Scott Millar. The bond the two have formed through working together is so apparent in his writing and shows what being a DSP is truly about, and why MVA is so proud of our employees.

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Scott is a fun, passionate, and caring person. He goes out of his way to boost the spirits of his fellow housemates, and staff­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­—always joking and kidding with everyone.

Life is not all about work to Scott, it is about going on adventures and pursuing his interests. Entertaining people and bringing a smile to their faces is also important to Scott because it helps him grow closer to his housemates and staff. He doesn’t want to be busy chasing a promotion, or a better salary at work. That would get dull to him quickly. Scott wants time to unwind and enjoy his life, as these moments will never come back.

One of Scott’s main interests is music. His favorite artists are Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, and the Bee Gees. He has a large collection of records and CDs, mostly 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s rock. Scott also likes to watch shows on TV Land, such as Six Million Dollar Man, and Gunsmoke. He usually gets up early in the morning to watch his favorite shows before breakfast. Scott also collects Superman, Spiderman, and Batman comics.

Scott also enjoys traveling and has been to many wonderful places. Scott visited Disneyland, where he went on as many rides as he could. His favorite was the flying Dumbo ride. He traveled to Seattle, Washington to see the Space Needle, and had dinner at the top overlooking the Emerald City.

When he visited Graceland, the former home-turned-museum of Elvis Presley, he was so excited to learn more about one of his favorite musicians. Scott’s favorite part of the museum was the Jungle Room, Elvis’s man cave that he converted into a tropical oasis complete with a working waterfall.

Scott tries to visit the Coast as much as possible. He has family reunions there and enjoys playing in the sand on the beach. His latest trip was to Seaside, where Scott stayed with his housemates from Johnstone Court. He explored the town, fed the sea lions, rode the carousel, shopped for antiques, and ate out.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to Scott. He has many diverse interests and hobbies that are hidden from the naked eye. But, if you take the time to sit down and peel back the layers of Scott’s life, you will find a reason to listen. That is why being a DSP is so great.